A project is temporary in that it has a defined beginning and end in time, and therefore defined scope and resources.

And a project is unique in as it is not a routine operation, but a specific set of operations designed to accomplish a singular goal. So a project team often includes people who don’t usually work together – sometimes from different organizations and across multiple geographies.

Three Characteristics of Project

Unique

Project is unique i.e. it is not a routine operation, eg. the building of cars in a car factory is not a project as it is a routine or business as usual operation. If the company decides to launch a new car, then competing the design of the car will be a project as it will be unique

Temporary

A project is temporary i.e. it has a defined beginning and end in time, and therefore defined scope and resources.

Progressively Elaborated

The scope and requirements may be less clear on day 1 when a project starts and progressively more an more clarity comes in.